At this time of year, you can’t move for bogus ‘superfoods’ crowding the supermarket aisles. Whether it’s another wonder grain of the ancients, a lesser-known cruciferous variety or just blueberries again, the abundance of rehashed PR health claims can often crowd out the new and far more interesting discoveries of genuine science. Exhibit A: the pomegranate seed. While the juice of the fruit has already soaked up its fair share of hype, work at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has found that pomegranate seeds contain a molecule that improves a cell’s ability to recycle its mitochondria its battery pack, in effect. They tested their findings by feeding mice a serum loaded with this substance and monitoring the rodents endurance while running. The subjects supplemented with pomegranate seed displayed a 42% improvement in stamina which, we are sure you’ll agree, is a pretty sweet result.
Human trials are scheduled, of course. But while you wait for official rubber-stamping, a little self-experimentation couldn’t hurt. Taking a minute to sprinkle a few pips on your quinoa breakfast bowl is a simple way to make a good food better – and possibly plant the seed of a new PB.
